I feel the fans’ pain, admits Wigan Athletic boss

Paul Kendrick

Paul Cook admitted the ‘absolutely criminal’ goals Wigan Athletic conceded in the 3-0 defeat at Blackburn left him - and the club’s fans - in ‘deep pain’.

Latics slipped to a deserved defeat at Ewood Park with barely a whimper, to remain in the relegation mire ahead of Saturday’s massive six-pointer against Bolton Wanderers at the DW.

A Nick Powell header, from substitute Callum McManaman’s cross, that flicked the outside of the post at the beginning of the second half was the closest they came to laying a glove on a Rovers side without a win or a clean sheet since January.

And two goals from Danny Graham - the first a penalty, the second a simple route one effort - and Bradley Dack, who benefited from a comical mix-up between Jonas Olsson and Jamie Jones with four minutes to go, gave Rovers the win at a canter.

“Where do you start and finish with that?” Cook mused. “I’m certainly not going to criticise my players, that’s not my style as a manager.